Does your Organic Skincare contain Sustainable Palm Oil?

Organic Skincare lovers will be interested to know that a letter popped through my door a couple of days ago from WWF – The World Wildlife Fund that brought to my attention the problem that is being created by Palm oil production in tropical countries.

Palm oil is used in around half of all packaged food products sold by supermarkets – you may find it listed as ‘vegetable oil’, in anything from bread to shampoos. Mostly sourced from Malyasia and Indonesia, it is produced from plants grown on land that was previously rainforest.

This threat to the rainforest also threatens the animals that live there such as the Orang-utans, Tigers, Elephants and Rhinos. Not only are the animals affected, but also local communities that rely on the same forests for food and shelter. Knock on effects also include global warming and climate change.

The WWF has been active in producing a round table on Sustainable Palm
Oil (RSPO) which is the only multi-stakeholder initiative of its kind that's committed to promoting sustainable production of palm oil across the world. With over 400 members, including palm oil growers, processors, traders, manufacturers, and retailers, RSPO has developed principles and criteria that are crucial to sustainable palm oil production. We are looking into membership opportunities at buyOrganics.

The RSPO iniyiative has made real ground in increasing the sustainability of this industry with over 1.3 million tonnes of certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) being produced over the last year, of which more than 460,000 tonnes have been sold to date. That quantity amounts to only 37% of the available annual supply, but sales have grown in recent months as more companies start to change their policies and catch on as to what’s at stake.

In light of this information, presented by WWF and the BBC programme Panorama, buyOrganics, is committed to review it’s organic skin care products and give preference to manufacturers using Sustainable Palm Oil.

In the spotlight is Trevarno Organic Skincare. Trevarno is a wonderful range of organic skincare made in the UK for the whole family that brings beauty and nature together. Not only is the range certified organic by the Organic Farmers & Growers Association, but it is also dedicated to the environment by buying locally grown West Country herbs and obtaining sustainable Palm Oil from a producer who works closely with the Worldwide Fund for Nature. We are proud to be able to present this wonderful organic skincare line to you knowing that it is ethical and completely environmentally sound. Our favorite product of the month is the Trevarno Organic Day Cream that has been given the thumbs up from customers who have had really bad skin allergies and found that this cream works really well for them along with the Trevarno Rose water and Chamomile Toner.

At the moment it is difficult to know what products contain Palm oil that is sustainable, but this is a change that is sure to occur with public pressure

Healthy sleep for the chemically sensitive.

Organic mattress lovers will be interested to hear about a recent article claiming some organic mattresses contain fire retardant chemicals. What a shock, surely the whole point is to get away from chemicals and sleep on a pure surface! Just so you know this is catagorically unacceptable at buyOrganics!

These companies site the reason for using fire retardants in their organic mattresses as due to fire safety regulations and law. This is actually not accurate, in the UK anyway. In fact what is required is that any mattress pass a flame test, the surface should not smolder if a light is held to it for a designated amount of time. This flame retardency can normally only be achieved through use of flame retardant chemicals, however it can also be achieved through natural means, some companies just don’t have the know how of how to do this naturally and without chemicals.

We can proudly say that our Organic mattresses have achieved fire safety tests and have the BS7177 test naturally without the use of any fire retardent chemicals and are Soil Association certified also

Studies have shown that flame retardants migrate into the blood stream of humans; In addition, Dioxin, a bleaching agent, and formaldehyde are two other unpleasant chemicals which may be found in a conventional mattress that can cause health problems.

To ensure that you are getting the most out of your organic mattress, ensure you get synthetic dye free organic cotton sheets, under blankets and protectors. We have combined the best organic mattresses with the most sumptuous organic sheets together at buyOrganics.

All in all, when buying, be careful to check that the organic mattress you are buying does not contain fire retardents and is in fact pure organic as ours are.

New Inika – Natural Mineral Makeup Looks for 2010

Just before Christmas Inika launched its new product range, full of vibrant colours for 2010. The collection was an instant hit with natural mineral lipsticks, eye shadows and blushers, and some new treats to add. New to the already best selling range of pure Mineral foundation powder makeup is the mineral liquid makeup, which gives you total coverage and flawless perfection that’s even ok for the most sensitive of skins. The Inika collection now boasts a luscious new lip whip which provides colour and hydration in one swoop, as well as a light reflecting crème and fantastic new shades in the range.

So if you’re looking to update your natural makeup bag this spring, check out some of Inika’s new colours. The latest looks this season are inspired by Nicole Farhi’s 2010 Catwalk of Green and Purple colours. Here are some tips on how to create the same stunning look

Get that flawless matt look with Inika’s Mineral Foundation; pick the shade closest to your skin colour. Make sure your brows are shaped and coloured either using Inika Brow baby pencil or using a mineral eyeshadow, I use Coco Motion from Inika’s new range applied with an angle brush.

Apply Purple Haze Inika Mineral Eyeshadow to the top lid with the Inika eyeshadow brush. Keep the brush damp when applying if you’d like a darker look or dry if you’d like a powdery finish. I love platinum eyeshadow on the outer corner of the brow.

For the great green finish, I’d recommend either the new Kingfisher mineral eyeshadow shade or Forest Gold, depending on how dramatic you want to be and what complements your clothes best.
Get that great liquid eyeliner look, with Inika’s black eyeliner, just dampen it first before applying. Finish with lappings of Black mascara; we love the new Inika Volumising Mascara.

For the gentle natural looking lips I recommend Naked Ambition Inika Lipstick and subtle touch of Inika’s Rosy glow to contour the cheeks, or an Inika bronzer that suits your skin tone.

All products are free of bismuth oxychloride, parabens, phthalates and synthetic dyes and available online at www.buyorganics.co.uk. Stocks are selling out fast so some items are on back order, they're going out as fast as they're coming in!!!

Organic Hair Conditioners that create Salon Style Hair

Natural Hair care enthusiasts will be interested to know why conditioners are so important for our hair and why they work on keeping our hair looking fabulous when used properly.

The use of natural hair conditioners will keep your hair looking naturally shiny and glossy, while keeping locks strong and also helping to prevent damage. No amount of hair conditioner can actually repair damage, however, ‘Conditioners smooth the cuticles, reduce static electricity, protect against UV damage and enhance overall appearance," says Dr. D'Anne Kleinsmith, a dermatologist in West Bloomfield, Mich
Conditioners also help keep the hair's cortex hydrated. "Dry, out-of-condition hair lacks moisture, and without enough moisture, the number of hydrogen bonds may be reduced," explains John Gray, author of The World of Hair. "Conditioning allows reestablishment of the hydrogen bonds and improves the moisture content of the hair by improving the weatherproofing of the cuticle."

The actual way you use conditioning treatments on your hair, depends on your hair type as well on its length and your usual hair care routine. All types of natural and organic conditioners are available now that can combat problems associated with your hair type and give you the actual salon impact you want to have at home. For instance, is your hair subjected to heated styling products everyday? Do you use a lot of chemical products on your hair? Is it curly or fine?

For fine hair we recommend skipping your roots and just conditioning the ends so that your hair doesn’t get weighed down too much a light organic conditioner such as Rosemary and Peppermint Detangler by John Masters is perfect for this. This is also a great product for helping detangle thick unruly hair, although thick hair does require more intensive conditioning to tame it and get it moisturized to the right level. For this we’d really recommend Lavender and Avocado Intensive organic hair conditioner by John Masters.

Curly hair needs serious conditioning every time you shampoo, on the days you don't shampoo, run a conditioner through your locks if they've gotten bulky and unkempt to help them relax and detangle easily. Rinse your scalp thoroughly but leave a trace of conditioner in your strands.

To avoid dehydration and frizz, use a deep-conditioning mask every two weeks. Maximize the results by applying the mask, then covering your hair with a shower cap or plastic wrap and running the heat of a blow dryer a few inches above your head for five to ten minutes. We really love John Masters Organic Dry Hair Nourishment & Defrizzer. If your hair is extremely dehydrated, use a basic conditioner to detangle, followed by a leave-in conditioner to sustain moisture.

Coloured hair needs a different type of conditioner because hair colour can remove the essential lipid layer that coats the hair shaft depleting your hair of its natural waterproofing qualities. And since a basic conditioner is formulated to deposit on waterproof hair, it becomes ineffective on color-processed tresses. We love Intensive repair organic hair conditioner by Green people that helps put back the protective layer on the hair. Another excellent product for colour treated hair is John masters Honey and Hibiscus hair reconstructor.

How to Use Your Organic Hair Conditioner:

Pour a blob of conditioner onto the centre of your palm and rub your hands together to spread out. Using your fingers somewhat like a comb, apply the conditioner from the midsections of your hair down toward the ends. "You should concentrate on these areas, as they are the most damaged parts of your hair," explains Shiel. "When you rinse your hair, enough of the product will then deposit on the parts of your hair closest to your scalp." You may also want to use a paddle brush or wide-tooth comb in the shower to distribute the conditioner throughout

Try Logona Age Protection for Free

New In Store! fantastic new organic Anti Aging skin care range by Logona. ‘Age Protection by Logona’ is an elegant value for money high performance skincare line that ticks all the boxes when it comes to keeping you looking young looking and beautiful naturally. Tried and Tested by buyOrganics Founder Sonia Kalia-Sagoo, watch out for the full review coming soon. For free samples and product info contact mail@buyorganics.co.uk today!